Society

After three years and several setbacks, the Hopkins County – Madisonville Public Library is getting a new building. Library Vice-President Gary Hunt says board members voted Tuesday to authorize the purchase of a former Save-A-Lot grocery building close to downtown Madisonville. 

More than 200 injured veterans, troops and their supporters will ride bicycles and hand cycles through Fort Campbell, Ky., today. The Ride 2 Recovery Bluegrass Challenge started in Cincinnati Sunday and will end Friday in Nashville. The ride is a way for veterans to improve their health by cycling. Most of the participants are from Warrior Transition Units that help troops rehabilitate from injuries. The cycling veterans include some from Clarksville, Dickson and Murfreesboro.

Illinois foreclosures are up more than 30 percent from the same time last year. A RealtyTrac report shows third-quarter foreclosures totaled more than 42,000. That’s one of every 126 housing units, 4 percent higher than the second quarter.  That puts the state at the fourth highest foreclosure rate in the U.S.  Illinois foreclosures did drop 20 percent in September when compared to August. The three highest foreclosure rates are in Florida, Arizona and California. But nationally, foreclosure filings hit a 5-year low last month. The last time the rate was this low was in December 2007.

Kentucky has a new license plate available for sale depicting a world record smallmouth bass. People can preorder the plate commemorating David Hayes’ catch from Dale Hollow Lake in 1955. Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources says Hayes caught almost 12-pound fish while trolling near a new boat ramp. The plate will cost $25 and will be available in March. Preorders are being taken until Oct. 20.